Index.



' Patented Maiy 1,1900. 0. n. WILEY.

I N D E X (Application fiIed Nov. 7, 1899.)

(No Model.)

aiiiiiiii Witness es:

u: Nonms PETER: 00,. mom-Limo. wnsnmu'mu, a. c.

NIT-ED STATES,

PATENT Frrcn.

CLARENCE H. \VILEY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT. a

INDEX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 648,476, dated May 1, 1900. Application filed November 7,1899. Serial No. 736,143. Nomads To all whom it may concern..- 7

Be it known that I, OLARENOE H. WILEY,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indexes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to that class of indexes in which the papers are intended to be loosely retained between the leaves of the index. p

The object of my invention is to provide an index in whichthe defects in prior devices of a like class are avoided and overcome and which possesses several advantages as compared to prior indexes.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 isa plan view of the first page of a book with my improved form of index, the cover being opened and cut away on the left. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the completed book opened. Fig. 3 is a diagram view, on enlarged scale, showing several leaves in their respective position depthwise, but slid past each other laterally. Fig. 4 is a diagram View showing how two leaves may be cut and provided with the rounded stub without waste of paper. Fig. 5 is a like view showing'the idea as applied to the formation of a stub for two of the intermediate letters of the alphabet.

In the accompanying drawings the letter a denotes a leaf of the index, and b a rounded projection from the edge, forming a tag, the curved (and preferably circular) edge of this tag being continued without break or angle into the curved line of the recess 0, cut into the izdge of the leaf and located next below the tag Each leaf may be made of any material,

usually of paper, and in numbers sufficient to make up an index of the desired sizeor scope as to subject-matters covered by it. The leaves of the index register along the edge where the tags are marked except at the point where the rounded tag projects so as to dis play the letter or character it bears and also where the recess uncovers a small extent of the surface of underlying leaves. The incision is preferably of the same shape as the tag in outline, the edges of the two forming a reverse curve.

On arranging the tag I) and the recess a with the outline as described it is possible to have one out provide two leaves without waste of paper, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. In Fig. i the letter A may be marked on the leaf to the left and the letter Y on the leaf to the right, the latter being inverted and placed in proper position. In Fig. 5 the manner of forming two sheets with tags for the letters D and W is illustrated.

In my improved form of index there is no square corner along the projecting edge from top to bottom to be turned up .and form a dog-ear, and the upper or first leaves provide a support for the under leaves, and thus prevent their corners from being turnedup. A further advantage is in the increased space on the tag or lap for letters or other charac ters. In view of the absence of angles to lo cate a point where a tear will commence no reinforcement of the tag is needed, nor is there any chance for the tag on one leaf to catch on another in the slight sliding movement of one leaf on the other, which is usually permitted by the manner of binding indexes or which may be the product of a wide leaf.

In Fig. 3 the leaves of the index are shown as slid out from under each other to more clearly illustrate the shape of the tag and incision next to it.

It is obvious that the index may be arranged with the characters on either edge desired and in any desired number.

Another feature of my invention, which may be used without an index or in connection with any particular form of index, resides in providing each leaf withan opening (1, preferably near the center, the cut-out portion afiordin g means by which any bill, memorandum,or like on a slip of paper 6 may be seen as soon as the front cover of the index is lifted. By inserting the finger in the opening all the leaves may be at once lifted which overlie the leaf on which the slip lies and the book at once opened to that place without requiring the turning over of each single leaf. As soon as this memorandum has been examined it may be turned over as a leaf and then through the opening in the leaf of the book the position of the next memorandum discov ered and the leaves lifted, as before described. This feature of the invention is especially useful in connection with an index'arranged to hold copies of bills and forming a book of reference for the accounts alphabetically arranged, from which book they may be transferred to a ledger. l

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an index, in combination, a plural number of leaves each having a single tag projectin g beyond the edge of the leaf and formed with a rounded outline and next to the tag a recess within theedge of the leaf and with its edge formed on the same curveas the outline of the tag, all substantially as described.

2. As an improved article of manufacture,

.ingva cover the exact a book having a single opening located at or near the center and extending continuously through the leavesfrom front to back, all

substantially as described.

3. In combination inan index havinga series of characters alongits edge, a single opening located 'at or near the center and extending continuously through the leaves from the front to the back of the book whereby on liftposition of an interleaved slip may be seen. a

v CLARENCE H.-WILEY.

Witnesses: y

CHAS. L. BURDETT, ARTHUR B. JENKINS. 

